Everything about The Armenians In Lebanon totally explained
The
Armenians in Lebanon (
Armenian:,
Arabic: ) are
Lebanese citizens of
Armenian descent. There has been an Armenian presence in
Lebanon for centuries. While there hasn't been a census for a few decades, because the balance between
Christians and
Muslims is considered to be a volatile subject, it's estimated that there are approximately 150,000 Armenians in
Lebanon, or around 4% of the population.* Prior to the
Lebanese Civil War, the number was higher. Lebanese-Armenians are guaranteed 6 seats in the Lebanese parliament: 5 for Armenian Orthodox, and one for Armenian Catholics. Because many Protestants in Lebanon are ethnic Armenians, the sole parliamentary slot for Protestants has at times been filled by an Armenian, making for a total of 7 Armenians in the Lebanese parliament.
History
Armenians first established contact with Lebanon when
Tigranes the Great conquered
Phoenicia from the
Seleucids and made it part of his short lived Armenian Empire. When the
Roman Empire established its rule over both Armenia and ancient Lebanon, some Roman troops of Armenian origin went there in order to accomplish their duties as Romans. After Armenia converted to Christianity in
301, Armenian pilgrims established contact with Lebanon and its people on their way to
Jerusalem; some of whom even settled there.
The Armenian presence in Lebanon during the
Ottoman period was minimal, however, there was a large influx of Armenians after the
Armenian Genocide of
1915. The refugees endured many difficulties and had to adapt to the
Arab lifestyle. When Armenians first came to Lebanon they inhabited the area of
Karantina. Later on, in
Bourj Hammoud, a thriving Armenian community was formed. In
1939, after the
French ceded the
Syrian territory of
Alexandretta to
Kemalist Turkey, Armenians, other
Christians and
Arabs from the area moved to the
Bekaa Valley. The Armenians were grouped in
Anjar, where a community exists to this day.
During the
Lebanese Civil War, Armenians, grouped in
Bourj Hammoud and Anjar, did their best to remain neutral. The
Armenian Revolutionary Federation and the
Social Democrat Hunchakian Party were the leading political parties and had significant influence in all facets of Armenian life during the war. Various Armenian guerilla organizations, such as
ASALA became active in Lebanon, and used it as a launching pad for their operations.
Put forth by the Armenian bloc of the
Lebanese Parliament, the legislature unanimously approved on April 4, 1997 a resolution, calling for the commemoration of the 82nd anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the
Ottoman government.
There are two predominately Armenian parties in Lebanon:
Hunchag and
Tashnag.
After the
2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Turkey proposed to send some of its troops to Lebanon as a part of
UNIFIL. Most Armenians strongly oppose Turkish involvement.
Education
Levon & Sophia Hagopian Armenian College, est. 1963, Bourj Hamoud - Beirut
Official Website
Armenian Evangelical College is one of Beirut's most prestigious secondary schools.
Haigazian University (HU) is one of Beirut's most prestigious universities. It is a liberal arts Armenian institution of higher learning, which uses English as the language of instruction. Moreover, it's the only Armenian university in the Diaspora.
Religion
These are the 3 Armenian denominations recognized by the government. The Armenians have Armenian Orthodox, Armenian Catholic, or Armenian Evangelical mentioned in their identity cards, in the denomination field.
Monuments
Armenian Genocide Monument
Bikfaya is home to a commemorative plaque and monumental sculpture, honoring the victims of the 1915
Armenian Genocide. Designed by Zaven Khedeshian and renovated by Hovsep Khacherian in 1993, the outdoor, freestanding sculpture rests on top of a hill that's located on the grounds of the summer retreat of the Catholicate of Cilicia.
The sculpture is a bronze abstract figure of a woman standing with hands open toward the sky. A plaque with Arabic and Armenian inscriptions reads:
This monument, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, was erected with the cooperation of the whole Armenian Community in Lebanon, to celebrate the rebirth of the Armenian nation and to express gratitude to our country, Lebanon - April 24 1969.
The Armenian community of Lebanon visits the monument on April 24 every other year. The pilgrimages are alternated with the
Catholicate of Cilicia in
Antelias.
Sports
There are two predominately Armenian football teams in Lebanon and one basketball team:
Homenetmen Beirut (football)
Homenmen Beirut (football)
Antranik (basketball)
Notable Lebanese Armenians
Shaunt Basmajian - Poet
Hagob Donabedian - Footballer who plays for Nejmeh.
Pierre Chammassian - Comedian
Sylva Channessian - Miss Lebanon and Miss World Finalist 1973
Samuel Der-Yeghiayan - Judge (Lebanese-Syrian-American)
Adiss Harmandian – Singer
Tulip Joshi - Actress and model (Indian father, Lebanese-Armenian mother)
Chris Karagulleyan - Professional Gambler
Arsinée Khanjian - actress
Zaven Kouyoumdjian - Talk show host
Émile Lahoud – President of Lebanon (Lebanese-Armenian mother)
Renée Lahoud – First Lady
Guy Manoukian – Composer
Serj Tankian – Lead singer of the American band System of a Down
John Dolmayan – Drummer of the American band System of a Down
Tigran Mansurian - Composer, 2004 Grammy awards nominee
Claudia Marchelian – Annahar journalist, critic, author, screenwriter
Sir Vartan Melkonian - Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Maria Nalbandian - Singer
Nourhanne - Singer
Karim Pakradouni – Politician, Ex-Minister, President of Phalange Party
Hagop Pakradounian- Politician,MP
Jean Belian- Politician,General Inspector In The Prime Ministry Of Lebanon
Dawood Pasha – Ottoman Armenian governor
Ohannes Pasha – Ottoman Armenian mutasarrif
Rayan - Singer
Jirayr Sefilyan - Activist
Setrak Setrakian - Pianist
Sako Shahinian - Illustrator
Vartan Meguerditchian - Actor-DirectorFurther Information
Get more info on 'Armenians In Lebanon'.
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